Donations and Volunteering

In the wake of a disaster we often see the best of people; generosity, compassion, a desire to help. However, there can be unintended consequences from these actions. The outpouring of kindness can quickly overwhelm resources and a community’s ability to handle donated resources and volunteers.

For the many that will want to help in the wake of Hurricane Irma, here are some suggestions that will make the greatest impact for those in need.

Donations:

Quite often, survivors do not need or can’t use goods that are donated by generous fellow citizens. Organizations that receive unsolicited donations have to take time to catalogue and store such materials, which takes valuable time away from working on urgent needs. Instead of having to transport and store items at great expense, it is MUCH better to send cash donations. If you would like to donate to victims of Hurricane Irma, please visit www.nvoad.org or www.charitynavigator.org for a list of reputable charities.

Volunteer:

If you would like to volunteer your services after the storm, please note that self-deployment is discouraged. In order to assist in a cohesive and organized fashion, volunteers should connect with affiliates or organizations training individuals. Please visit www.volunteerflorida.org/irma to register to volunteer.